Law

Social Sciences Division

Develop analytical skills and build expertise in the study of law and its role and function in both American society and the international community.

ABOUT US

Increasingly complex legal considerations permeate every aspect of modern life in both civilian and military environments. The U.S. Air Force Academy’s Department of Law help cadets develop the analytical skills that will permit them to identify, understand, and resolve the legal issues they will likely encounter after graduation.

The legal studies program is not “prelaw,” but is designed to provide an enhanced knowledge of the law as part of a broadly focused education. Cadets will build expertise in the study of law and its role and function in both American society and the international community.

Cadet Resources

Law Faculty & Staff

Majors & Minors

Legal Studies (major)

Social Science (major)*
*Restrictions apply

Department News News From Around The Department

March 5, 2020

AF Academy senior capstone increases awareness of banned substances

News feature: 'Read the Ingredients' Cadet 1st Class Melissa Brunkal speaks to a class of law students at the Air Force Academy, Feb. 25. She and Cadets 1st Class Alex Hankhouse, Hailee Macias and Isaac Turner presented their capstone project concerning Defense Department and Air Force drug policies and familiarizing cadets and Airmen with the DOD banned substances list. Story by Ray Bowden, photos by Trang Le, Feb. 5, 2020 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Four law students hope their senior capstone project helps cadets at the Air Force Academy make smart decisions about products containing ingredients and substances banned...

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January 24, 2020

Academy cadets make playoffs at national moot court competition

From left: Maj. Kenneth Hyle, U.S. Air Force Academy Cadets Matthew Pryor, Caitlin Bitting, Moira Casey, Noah Jensen, Aryemis Brown, Abbigayle Weaver and Maj. Wolfgang Weber pose for a group photo. Hyle and Weber are assistant law professors at the Academy and coaches for the Academy's Moot Court Team. The cadets seen here are on the Moot Court Team. (Courtesy photo) By Ray Bowden, Jan. 24, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Cadets at the Air Force Academy represented the university at a national-level collegiate court competition Jan. 17-18, making it deep into the tournament before eventually standing aside...

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November 21, 2019

Law department professor awarded ‘flagship’ scholarship grant to research, teach in Europe

[caption id="attachment_25825" align="alignnone" width="300"] Douglas McKechnie, a full professor in the Academy’s law department[/caption] By Ray Bowden, Nov. 21, 2019 U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- A legal expert at the Air Force Academy is getting ready to go on sabbatical in Europe next year, courtesy of a Fulbright scholar grant. Douglas McKechnie, a full professor in the Academy’s law department, will spend his spring months at Comenius University in Bratislava, Slovakia, teaching in the university’s Constitutional Law department. Col. Kristine Keunzli, head of the Academy’s law department, said McKechnie’s selection for the grant was “spot on.” “It properly portrays...

Continue Reading Law department professor awarded ‘flagship’ scholarship grant to research, teach in Europe

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